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This Is Me--2019 A to Z Theme

The Challenge of 2019 was the 10th! Since this was kind of a milestone year for A to Z my theme was a retrospective of sorts, looking at my 10 years as a blogger as well as ruminations about my life as it is and as I hope it yet can be. I've got places to be and people to see along the way. Hope you'll join me for this part of my journey...

Always a work in progress--welcome to my blog.

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Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Zodiac Message ( #AtoZChallenge )

I'm often a bit surprised about how much a daily horoscope message seems to apply directly to me. Then I read the messages under the other signs and realize they all could apply to me...

I usually don't much stock into horoscopes, but I always read mine when I see one and it doesn't matter what date it came from. In the matter of horoscopes one entry could work as well as another for any day. And that's what I did during April.

A few years ago I cancelled my L.A. Times subscription because the paper didn't seem to have a function as a news source that I needed to pay for. Over the years I had accumulated a stack of unread entertainment sections that included comic pages that had crossword and sudoku puzzles. That's why I saved the papers--for the puzzle section since now and then I enjoy working on those puzzles. Between the puzzles there is the Daily Horoscope which I would always read, mostly out of a habit developed since a long time ago. The messages don't mean anything to me as in affecting my daily activities, but I read them nevertheless.

At the beginning of April the idea hit me for that often difficult letter 'Z': I decided that I would clip out my horoscope messages to be compiled at the end of the month in the style of a kidnapper's ransom message. As I started saving the messages I realized that an interesting message that seemed very applicable to my A to Z theme for the month was beginning to form. In addition to the eleven horoscope entries I collected during the month, I used a fortune cookie message from an early April Panda Express meal for the title and voila!--a message from the Zodiac! Tell me what you think:

Message from the Zodiac:

Nurture Your PassionsTo anyone trying to break into a new business, the business world can be hard and uninviting. Your cheerful demeanor helps to melt the first line of defense.Don't waste your time with those who inspire doubt in you. Put the people who always take your call or call you back immediately on the top of your list.Meet with someone you trust to help keep you on track with a project. Lay it out one the table, and determine together whether you're trying to take on too much or too little. There's a cause speaking to your heart. You're still not sure what you can do that make the biggest difference.You'll come up with ways to help the people who have been affected by unfortunate circumstances, even thought you had nothing to do with the creation of those circumstances.You usually spend your time helping, learning about the world and having fun. So Today's focus on making a name for yourself may feel strange.You'll speak to a group of people, and each individual will believe that you are connecting specifically with him or her.You'll improve the quality of your life by dealing with a problem that's been plaguing you. Keep trying new things.You may be concerned about being criticized, but it doesn't keep you from putting your best work out there. Your courage keeps you moving forwardYou feel more in control of your emotions than you did earlier in the week. There will be a sense that a pressure is off for now.Your spirit of exploration will be awakened and encouraged by the fire-sign influences you know--that's Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius.

I'm not sure about the last entry. I can think of a couple people in my life who were born under those signs, but maybe I need to start finding out some birthdays. Aside from that, this message does seem kind of relevant to what I've been thinking of late and what I've been alluding to with my April A to Z theme. I know I've been doing a lot of hinting and random rambling, but I was saying something this April even if only to myself.

If any of you readers has any epiphany about what I have been talking about this April or anything else for that matter, I'd love to hear your thoughts. I'm probably not going to rethink my position about the accuracy or usefulness of horoscopes, but this exercise in putting a series of messages together has produced an uncanny compilation that works very well for my circumstances.

And if I do meet some "tall dark stranger" after being forewarned by a daily horoscope listing, I'm going to have to remember to ask that person what their zodiac sign is.

Do you tend to read a horoscope on a regular basis? Would you say that there is any validity to horoscopes other than generic encouragement/advice? Have you come to any conclusion about my April series based on the above zodiac message which I have deemed relatively accurate? How closely do you think I should heed my "Zodiac Message"?

My thanks to those who read this post and a really massive thank-you to those who followed this series in it's entirety or read many of the posts. It's been another great A to Z! I'll have more to say in my upcoming Reflections Post on May 6th or so.

I try to stay true to my beliefs and convictions that reading horoscopes are just as useless if not harmful as a Ouija board and I stay away from them. They never made much sense to me anyway.Jackie's Bookbytes Letter Z

Jackie, I know there are so-called spiritualists who "read the stars" and such and that is certainly evil like Ouija boards. I have no idea of the credentials of the columnists writing the horoscope columns. I essentially see it as most of the other stuff in the paper.

What a clever idea, Lee! ☺ I generally don't put much stock into horoscopes, but am amazed how accurate some of the specific characteristics of my sign (Aquarius) are. Your A to Z theme is about your songwriting and getting those songs recorded, isn't it? And, how they'll become best sellers, making you rich and famous. ☺ (I'm guessing; remembering that photo of a mansion you posted.) Go for it!

Debbie D, I'm an Aquarius as well so the above message must apply to you too! Rich and famous would be nice extension and outcome of my current dream, but you are essentially correct where my mind has been.

I don't have much confidence in horoscopes but they are fun to read. Most Indian parents get their children's horoscopes done - a customised set of predictions based on the exact time of birth and the star charts, very complex. Mine turned out to be quite accurate in terms of character traits but went off the rails with the events, somewhere in my twenties I think, after which no-one paid any further attention to it thankfully :)

I like the way you've used the messages to piece together a story - very clever. And from what I've read of the posts, you're thinking about reviving your song-writing/musical side. I wish you a pleasant time doing it and much success.

Thank you for another fab Challenge. It was wonderful to be part of the 10th anniversary.

Nilanjana, reading the stars was a noble profession of ancient times I suppose and now some people make money from it. I'd never pay to have a horoscope done, but I think I could develop a skill for writing them if I were inclined to do so. But I'm not.

Astrology has been one of my passions since I discovered it at age thirteen. As serious astrologers and devotees will tell you, the Sun sign stuff in newspapers and popular magazines are generic garbage that could apply to anyone. You need to know what sign rules which house (there are twelve); which sign rules each planet; if you have a strong rising sign or Moon sign almost completely masking the normal characteristics of your Sun sign; how many degrees each planet and sign is in; and if a certain sign was being directly influenced by another sign's ruling planet the year you were born. I respect that some people think astrology is bunk, but my belief in it doesn't hurt anyone, and I'd never, e.g., go by a horoscope instead of listening to a doctor in a serious situation.

I'm a Sagittarius with a very strong Virgo rising, and my Moon in Sagittarius feels much more like Pisces, due to Neptune directly influencing Sagittarius the year I was born. My Venus in Capricorn placement explains why I'm so drawn to people and things from other generations.

Carrie-Anne, I do believe there as messages in the heavens, but I have my doubts about many people who claim they can read them. Logically, horoscopes can't hurt anyone, but I think like anything some people can take them to the extreme.

On the rare occasion I check my horoscope, it's only to get a good laugh.

Regarding fortune cookies, though... The first time we took our son, a toddler at the time, to a Chinese restaurant (as we called it back then), the server gave him a fortune cookie. We opened it up and read, "Beware of children." It seemed funny at the time, but now he's grown and has no desire to have children, so it makes me wonder...

"You may be concerned about being criticized, but it doesn't keep you from putting your best work out there." That line really hit home for me. I used to get a fun horoscope scroll from 7-11 when I was a teenager.

I haven't read my horoscope on a regular basis but every once in a while I'll catch one that I can "make" fit my particular circumstance at the moment. It does sound like you are wanting to make some big change in your life. Hope it all comes together for you! I do believe in following your dream. Thanks for leading another successful A to Z! Hope that you are not so rich and famous next year that you decide not to do it anymore :)

I don't believe in horoscopes BUT I always read mine! Go figure. What I find is that their generalizations about my personality and how approach things in life is pretty much on the money - my sign is a Ram! Yep! I'd rather use a hammer than any other tool. But with regards to things that will happen and predictions - nope - no time for such stuff. Great series of posts. Thanks for all your effort and your teams effort in promoting this Challenge!!

Knitter, it's like a fortune cookie. If I've broken open the cookie to eat it I figure I might as well read the fortune before tossing it. All that stuff has to be very generic since it will have a wide audience. I would be a bit skeptical about a personalized horoscope that presumably came from a spirit or something like that. Creepy!

I do like to read horoscopes. I have always read them, whether they actually mean anything or not. It's always interesting to see what they have to say. What a COOL idea to collect them and put them together that way! Really enjoyed this A to Z Challenge this year. Nice to walk down memory lane...

I do read my horoscope, and my husband's, just for fun. But I gave up listening to whatever advise they offer back when I was engaged and a horoscope book said the worse sign for me in a mate was my future husband's and then went on to tell me not to make any major life style changes on the date we'd set for our wedding. I guess I made the right choice to ignore the warnings, we're celebrating our 50th anniversary this month.

Hi Lee, Geoff here.Thank you so much for running this challenge again this year, it's been great.Rich and famous? No thanks. Judging by the amount of effort it has taken for me to reply to the few comments I get on my blog, I'd go without the hassle that comes with being famous. Blessings my friend and again, thanks to you and your team, Geoff.

I do read my horoscope each day, but just for fun. Only occasionally do I find one especially relevant. What you've done with compiling the list of entries is intriguing, though. I might try that to see what I get.

Congratulations for pulling off another fine year of A to Z! I loved your off-the-cuff writing last month. You pen words in a fashion that pull me in as if in a conversation. It's real and purrsonal to me, maybe it's because we've gotten to be good friends over the years or perhaps it's just your style or it be a little of both. One or combination doesn't change the fact that you're good at what you do. Now, let me respond to your questions...

Do you tend to read a horoscope on a regular basis? Nope, I haven't read mine in years. Occassionally, will break open a fortune cookie just for laughs. Would you say that there is any validity to horoscopes other than generic encouragement/advice? Nah, I think it's just coincidence if nothing else. Have you come to any conclusion about my April series based on the above zodiac message which I have deemed relatively accurate? Sure seems to be. How closely do you think I should heed my "Zodiac Message"? Purrsonally speaking I'd say listen to the advice of those you know you know the best because they probably will give similar words of encouragement and direction if not better. BTW, I'm a Sagittarius so I guess that means you need to include me as one of your advisors. :D Thanks again for putting on a furtastic A to Z bash and for the gentle encouragement to join in for my 6th year. I really had a great time!

Cathy, thank you for your kind words about my writing. I like to keep things like a conversation. It's not like I'm presenting anything academic.

I just thought it was weird/interesting how connected those horoscope messages can be when you put them in a series. It's like whoever does these just cut up some book and used the snippets as daily horoscope entries. One of my typical off-the-wall observations that I brought to my blog to toss out to readers.

I don't read the daily horoscopes because they are generic..my hubby reads them more than I do but I do like astrology for trying to dissect a personality and i have one book that, for fun, I have used to create the personality of my friends since each planet has a sign attached to it. For example I am a Gemini but my moon is in Pisces which makes me a true nut case:). I don't do anything daily etc.. and one has to take it more for fun but my friends and family were surprised by how accurate I was with them.

PG, I used to now and then read horoscope magazines that would be lying around my parents' house back in my college days. Not that I had any obsession about it--the magazines were just there and sometimes I was curious.

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A juggler of words and phrases. My main blog is Tossing It Out. The focus blog for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge can now be found at a-to-zchallenge.com where updates will be posted until the event in April begins.
Wrote By Rote is about memoir writing.
A Few Words is my Sunday contemplation blog.
A Faraway View is about dreams. Pick what you like or look at them all. I love blogging!